Weekly Review: November 22 - 28

We love it when Grandma and Grandpa from South Dakota are able to come out for a visit! It's been a long time since we have seen then so we were really looking forward to them coming this week. Unfortunately, they were not able to stay through Thanksgiving but we mad the most of the time that they were here! In addition to his snazzy new hair cut, Spencer had lots of new tricks to show them too! He was pointing out all of the alphabet letters he knows with this toy.

The Halloween costumes have all been tucked away in the closet but they are still accessible. One day, out of the blue, Spencer decided he wanted to wear the giraffe costume - while he had his lunch!

Mommy is the room parent for Brian's classroom. One of her duties is to provide snacks and entertainment for the classroom parties. The first of these parties is happening tomorrow when the class will celebrate their teachers birthday. Mommy came up with a Birthday Bingo game and put together the playing cards while Daddy took care of the building the rest of the game. The evening before the party we all sat down together and played a few games to break it in. Grandpa helped Spencer out a little bit and although Daddy never won a single game (nothing unusual there - Daddy NEVER wins these kinds of games), we all had a lot of fun!

Since I am updating this blog well after Christmas this information is no longer a secret. Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy and the boys headed to our favorite photo studio to have some pictures taken of the boys. The photographers usually get some great shots of the boys and Mommy is intending for those pictures to be a nice surprise gift for Daddy this Christmas. The session with the photographer went wonderful and since we were at the mall, we couldn't pass up spending a little time in the play area. Before we left for lunch at the boys favorite restaurant (the train themed place in Downers Grove called All Aboard), the boys took a couple train rides.

You gotta love the Yorktown Mall - it is VERY child friendly!

This is the year that we spend our Thanksgiving holiday in Illinois which means we didn't have far to travel. Grandma and Grandpa prepared a wonderful spread and it was all set up right across the street! We hope that you and your families all had a safe and happy holiday as well!

Weekly Review: November 15 - 21

This weeks calender is filled with meetings, rehearsals and activities. Next week isn't looking much different so we are extra anxious for Grandma and Grandpa to arrive from South Dakota late this week! Unfortunately, they won't be able to stay through Thanksgiving, but we will take any visit we get! The boys have lots of experience going to the grocery store with Mommy and clearly, they are observant of what they see. While Mommy was washing some dishes this week, the boys were standing at the end of the counter running their own store. As they rolled the soda bottle over the top of the microwave they would make a little "beep" sound - just like they see and hear it done at the grocery store!

Weekly Review: November 8 - 14

When it comes to selecting a new park to visit, Spencer is a rebel! He could have picked any nice little public park but this week, he was living on the edge. He suggested that we go to a cute little park which is next to a school. Ordinarily, Mommy would have mentioned that playgrounds that are next to schools are generally the property of the school and that we should probably look for a different park. However, once Spencer pointed out that the school was actually at the other end of the block and that the building next to the park was just a school district office. Thinking we were safe, we headed to the park. We had the place to ourselves and as is normally the case when we go to a park, we had fun! Additionally, no one came out to ask us to leave so we had that going for us too! It was a chilly day so we didn't intend to stay too long but once Mommy spotted the plaque that stated "Central School Playground - Dedicated in 2006".........we decided it was time to go! We will try to find a PUBLIC playground next time!

Spencer continues with his quest to do whatever his older brother does. This includes sleeping in a big boy bed. Lately, while they are playing they have started taking turns crawling into Brian's bed, covering up with a blanket, saying good night to everyone and then saying their bedtime prayer. Once that has been done they switch places and the whole process starts all over again!

The First Haircut!

Mommy and Daddy weren't excited about doing it but we finally agreed that it was time for Spencer to have his first haircut. Actually, we can admit that it was a little beyond time but why split hairs (so to speak!) In honor of "the first haircut", we took Spencer to one of those cute kiddy hair salons. He was such a good boy - he sat nicely and did everything that was asked of him.

Mr Todd gave Spencer a very cute haircut but Mommy and Daddy do have one complaint. He isn't a baby anymore......he looks like he is 12!!!!!!!

Rake It Up!

It was a BEAUTIFUL day so we used the weather to our advantage and did some much needed yard work!

What kid in their right mind would be able to pass up jumping into a huge pile of just raked leaves?????? Certainly not one of ours!

Park It Here!

This weeks park outing took us back to the village of Riverside. We drive by a school quite often and there is a small playground right next to it. It probably belongs to the school but it isn't fenced in and there are no signs stating it is not open to the public to today.......we tried it out!

As far as Spencer is concerned, any park that has a slide is a pretty good park! It is a small park but since we were the only ones there, the boys had a lot of fun!

Punkin' Bread

Brian's brought home a slice of the pumpkin bread that he made at school today. Brian was VERY anxious for everyone to sample it and Spencer was more than happy to be a taste tester!

What's For Breakfast?

The boys journey down to the kitchen each morning to make their breakfast cereal selection. Once Spencer had made his choice, he was asked the same thing that is asked every time Kix is selected from the cereal shelf.

"Spencer, did you know that kids like Kix for what Kix has got and Mom's like Kix for what Kix hasn't got?" I wonder how long it will be before he rolls his eyes and says.......man my parents are idiots!

PS: This picture was taken by Brian!

Subject: Father and Son

Brian has been helping Mommy out with the photographer duties. Aside from an occasional finger in the picture, he has snapped some very good shots! Here is an example of his handy work. Spencer is a professional "subject" who says cheeeeeese as soon as he sees the camera!

Jack-o-Cookie!

Uncle Corey mailed the boys a Halloween treat. Actually "treat" is a bit of an understatement for what he sent them! On behalf of Spencer, Brian (and Mommy and Daddy)......THANK YOU UNCLE COREY!!!!!!! The huge jack o lantern cookie is delicious!